Grammy night 2004 ends on surprising note

John Carter Cash accepts the award for best short form music video for 'Hurt,' featuring father Johnny Cash, at the 2004 Grammys (photo: Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press).

LOS ANGELES -- On a Grammy night that was heavy on the old stuff, a newbie solo artist walked away with more trophies than anyone.

Beyonce Knowles, whose Dangerously In Love solo debut spawned hits "Crazy In Love" and "Baby Boy," has risen further on her own than she could with her partners in trio Destiny's Child, at least in the eyes of Grammy voters. Knowles' five Grammys tied Norah Jones, Lauryn Hill and Alicia Keys for the biggest one-night Grammy haul by a female solo artist. (By comparison, Destiny's Child has won three in more than a decade.)

"Five? I didn't expect this," Knowles said. "It's a wonderful night. When I won and got offstage, my family was all there. You should have heard it. I can't believe my life. This night is another unforgettable moment."

When awards presenters weren't saying "Beyonce," they were often introducing performances of well-worn hits. Versions of Prince's "Purple Rain," The Police's "Roxanne," Luther Vandross' "A House Is Not A Home," P-Funk's "Give Up The Funk" and The Beatles' "I Saw Her Standing There" were among the retreads that mashed the nostalgia button.
Grammy pundits correctly predicted a night of success for innovative but old-school-grounded hip-hop duo OutKast, as the Atlanta-based act won the night's most coveted award, album of the year, for Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.

OutKast also won Grammys for rap album and urban/alternative performance. The best album Grammy in particular was a victory for urban and hip-hop music, as the Outkast album features more rap than any winner in the history of that category.

"It's funk music, man," said OutKast member Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. "We like to make music to make your face frown up like your baby took a (expletive) or something.''

The night's biggest surprise? If it wasn't Christina Aguilera's improbable ability to stay within her carefully affixed top, then it was the best new artist category. There, 50 Cent, the In Da Club rapper and heavy favorite, lost out to moody rock band Evanescence. The rapper may have been surprised as well: He walked onstage while Evanescence collected its award, and then he strolled away.

"I think I expected him to win, as well as, I guess, he did," said Amy Lee of Evanescence, whose band also won for best hard rock performance.

"My mother's heart, it may give up in body but it never did in spirit," said son John Carter Cash, who produced the album. "She's laughing and dancing somewhere"

Mrs. Cash was among several performers who were paid posthumous honors. Husband Johnny Cash won for best short form video for "Hurt," marking the first time a country performer has even won that category. Celia Cruz won for best salsa/merengue album and Warren Zevon won in the rock duo performance (with Bruce Springsteen, for "Disorder in the House") and the contemporary folk categories, and George Harrison won for pop instrumental.

There was a country dethroning, though it was a most pleasant sort of overtaking: Alison Krauss' three trophies lifted her to rarified Grammy status as she passed Vince Gill for the career Grammy lead among country and bluegrass performers. Her three wins gave her 17 total Grammys and made her the biggest Nashville winner of the evening.

"Vince is one of the finest personalities any kind of music could claim," she said backstage. "He's a fantastic host, in any area of his life."

Krauss, who performed on the show with Sarah McLachlan, seemed happy with her haul, if bemused by her grand surroundings. "This is all a freak show," she laughed.

Gill's male country vocal Grammy for "Next Big Thing" gave him 16 career Grammys. On the show, he also performed in a Beatles tribute with Sting, Dave Matthews and Pharrell Williams.

Voters were clearly swayed by R&B crooner Luther Vandross' career of artistry and by his poignant struggle to recover from a massive stroke last April. Vandross won four Grammys, including one he shared with Richard Marx for writing the song of the year, "Dance With My Father." Marx, who frequently collaborates with Nashville artists, shares Vandross' experience of losing a father, and "Dance" is an examination of their feelings of loss. Marx said he knew his father "Is up in heaven right now with Luther's dad, opening up a bottle of champagne."

Historically, and especially in the country categories, Grammy voters have chosen to honor critically heralded music over commercial blockbusters. One such winner last night was the multi-artist Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers, which won for best country album.

Produced by Carl Jackson, the album featured Krauss, Gill, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris and others singing songs first popularized by country's most influential duo, Charlie and Ira Louvin.

The Alan Jackson/ Jimmy Buffett collaboration "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" became Buffett's first No. 1 hit when it topped country charts. The song is also the first hit for either of its co-writers, Jim "Moose" Brown and Don Rollins (in fact, it's Brown's first song to be recorded by an artist), and now it's a Grammy winner for best country song.

"Three years ago, I was a high school band director in Texas," Brown said. "A lot's changed."

Country's other major award was for duo or group, where Ricky Skaggs and his Kentucky Thunder band's "A Simple Life" won over competitors Brooks & Dunn, Diamond Rio, Lonestar and The Oak Ridge Boys. Skaggs came into this year's show with a best-of-country five nominations. Randy Travis' Rise and Shine album won for Southern, country or gospel album, giving Travis his first Grammy in five years. "Three Wooden Crosses," an overtly religious story-song from Rise and Shine, topped country singles charts last year.